We are officially into the business end of the home & away season, though it seems like teams have been playing elimination finals since the bye rounds concluded.
An all-time season in 2023 has been undoubtedly trumped this year.
Never have we seen a more evenly poised playing field on the run to finals; just two wins separate 2nd and 13th on the AFL ladder.
Fans and pundits alike have tested their theories on the famous Squiggle Ladder Predictor, eager to hypothetically squeeze their supported side into the finals mix or foreshadow which storylines will front the news cycle come the end of August.
Predicting the finish to the season with 100% accuracy is unfathomable, even this late into the season. Over 400,000 potential formations are possible, and perhaps half of them are plausible in the current state of affairs.
Impossibility considered, we will nonetheless look at the current record and run home for each team, predicting the result of each match in the lead up to September to see how the finals bracket could be shaped.
We'll give all teams from 1st-13th a brief summary of how their season may end up and which games will prove most pivotal, while Adelaide, St Kilda, West Coast, North Melbourne and Richmond sit eliminated, mathematically or de facto.
Gold Coast
Current Record: 9-8 (106%)
Run Home:
- GWS (A)
- Brisbane (H)
- West Coast (A)
- Essendon (A)
- Melbourne (H)
- Richmond (A)
Predicted Position: 12th
Estimated Percentage: (103.6%)
Against the odds, Gold Coast may finally break their away game hoodoo with potential victories over West Coast in Perth and Richmond at the 'G.
It won't be enough, however, as the the Suns continue their history of the late season fade by falling to GWS, Essendon away from home, and succumbing to the experience of Melbourne the break their unbeaten run at home.
A home win over Brisbane next weekend is contentious, but a 3-3 run home won't be enough either way.
